Last week our family dove into sketching facial expressions with a simplified art study/project in the style of Rembrandt. If you fear art study – or if you don’t have special art supplies on hand – this is a fantastically simple art project. Less than 30 minutes, no special supplies, and just plain easy!

This art study focuses on facial expressions, although in the Rembrandt Art Study packet, I’ve included portraits that focus on the effects of light and shadows, which Rembrandt used to to add interest to the face in his portrait paintings.

Piece together facial expressions using the eyes and mouths, and sketch the expression you made!

And that’s it! Where’s my That Was Easy button?!? Seriously, it took me way longer to write this blog post than it did to coordinate the project with 4 students (which included a 2-year-old learning to use scissors), although perhaps some of my facial expressions looked a bit like this as the project was underway…

Considering facial expressions and the Rembrandt quote above, I’m wondering what will be etched into my face as I grow older? Will I have laugh lines or angry eyebrows? In this convicting moment, I’m feeling compelled to smile joyfully (or laugh maniacally?) as I publish this post.

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Hi Jennifer! I’m not sure if this is how our community will be doing this particular project, but it’s a simple way to focus on facial expressions in the style of Rembrandt. Alternatively, you can use mirrors to draw facial expressions as described in the book Discovering Great Artists. I just found that doing it this way was fun for our children and simpler than trying to draw their own facial expressions (looking up into the mirror and then down at the paper).

Thanks for the question!
Brandy

Kristin

Any more thoughts on how you are doing this in community? Still prepping here….Thanks!!

Hi Kristin! I stepped down from Foundations directorship this year but have been working alongside our director to help with certain aspects of our community. We’ve switched Great Artists and Composers due to a special CC pilot program this semester, so Great Artists are not yet on the radar for our community. Are you thinking you’d rather use mirrors? Or are you wanting to do a different Rembrandt project? I was hoping to have time to try a few other ideas but haven’t gotten the chance yet. Let me know what you’re thinking and I’ll try to hash it out with you. 🙂

Christian, wife, and homeschool mom of four boisterous blessings, exploring the world from our home in Middle Tennessee. Read more…

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